November 14, 2017

Charles Spurgeon has a personal story that fits right in with out memory verse.

I once lived where my neighbor’s garden was divided from me only by a very imperfect hedge. He kept a dog, and his dog was a shockingly bad gardener, and did not improve my plants. So, one evening, while I walked alone, I saw this dog doing mischief and being a long way off, I threw a stick at him, with some earnest advice as to his going home. This dog, instead of going home, picked up my stick, and came to me with it in his mouth, wagging his tail. He dropped the stick at my feet and looked up to me most kindly. What could I do but pat him and call him a good dog, and regret that I had ever spoken roughly to him?

Jesus had a similar experience to the dog in Spurgeon’s story. They mocked Jesus and threw a big stick(cross) at him. Jesus picked up the cross and with this soft marshmallow response said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” What was the response of the soldiers who were mocking him and throwing the stick (cross) at Jesus?

Matthew 27:54 (NLT) — 54 The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”